Double load series flasher



June 27, 1967 H. e. SIIBERG DOUBLE LOAD SERIES FLASHER Filed Dec. 22, 1964 T 1 q l I ATTORNEYS United States Patent "ice 3,328,636 DOUBLE LOAD SERIES FLASHER Hemming G. Siiberg, Union, N.J., assignor to Wagner Electric Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 420,339 Claims. (Cl. 315-217) The present invention relates to thermoresponsive devices of the type employed to flash lamp loads. Flashers now in wide use on automobiles or the like for flashing directional signal lamps are of two general types, the series type and the shunt type. The series type has limited application because it must be designed for a specific lamp load. It is thus suitable for flashing directional signal lamps of a passenger car but cannot be used on the same vehicle for flashing of all signal lamps simultaneously as is desired during an emergency situation. The series type however is quick starting and is simpler to manufacture and substantially less expensive than the shunt type of flasher. In the series type, a blade biased toward one configuration is held against its bias by a tensioned pull ribbon which, when heated by electrical current, expands and permits the blade to move toward the position to which it is biased. In the cold position of the pull means, the circuit to the load is closed and when the blade moves towards its biased position, the circuit is opened and the pull ribbon cools, thus causing the cyclical operation. The rate of flashing varies with the current through the pull ribbon and therefore, with the usual series type flasher, doubling of the load for emergency signalling would radically increase the flashing rate, give insuflicient on time, overload the flasher, and generally give unsatisfactory operation. In the shunt type flashers, when the directional signal switch is closed, a relatively high resistance is included in the circuit during the off time of the lamps. The resistance may be in series with the pull ribbon or may be a heater for the pull ribbon. When the contacts of the shunt type flasher close, the resistance is shunted, causing the lamps to be brightly lit and the pull ribbon to contract. Thus, in the shunt type, the circuit to the lamp load is never open during signalling but the current to the lamps is modulated. This type of flasher can handle a wide variety of loads because of the high resistance in the circuit. The device is relatively expensive and complicated to construct. As it is not as fast starting as the series type, it is not as suitable for use in high speed passenger cars.

The flasher of the present invention is of the series type but it avoids the drawbacks of the series flasher in that it may be employed for flashing signal loads on either side of a car and also, through a simple switching arrange ment, can be employed to flash the lamps on both sides of the vehicle with no change in the current through the pull means. Briefly, the flasher comprises a blade or vane of spring metal that has deformations therein tending to cause it to assume a flexed position. Mounted on the vane and attached at their ends to the periphery of the vane are two pull ribbons, the tension in each of which when cold holds the blade against the bias therein. Each pull ribbon carries a contact substantially at its center which engages a fixed contact when the pull ribbon is cold. The vane is mounted on a support as are the fixed contacts and these three supports comprise the terminals of the device.

Associated with the above described flasher is a switch which in one position connects the source of energy to one fixed contact and in another position connects the source of energy to the vane and simultaneously disconnects the fixed contact from the source and connects it to one lamp load to be flashed. The other fixed contact of the flasher is connected to a movable arm of the signal fixed contact 3,328,636 Patented June 27, 1967 switch which may be, and usually is, a Bell switch. When the source of potential is connected to the blade, the

second fixed contact is connected not only to the Bell switch but also to a second load to be flashed. Thus, when the source is connected to the vane, current flows in parallel through the two pull ribbons and to the lamp loads. Hence, the current through each pull ribbon for emergency signalling is the same as the current through the pull ribbons in series when only the signal lamps at one side of the vehicle are to be flashed.

For a better understanding of the invention and of a specific embodiment thereof, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing of which- FIG. 1 is a side view of a flasher embodying the invention, parts being broken away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the flasher of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic diagram of the switching means associated with the flasher for converting from directional to emergency flashing of lamp loads.

The flasher of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as comprising a rectangular blade 2, having four ribs 4, extending from the upper and lower edges and deforming the blade to be concave as viewed in FIG. 1. A pull ribbon 6 is secured at one end to the upper periphery of the blade adjacent the center and at its other end to a lower corner of the blade 2. Similarly, a pull ribbon 8 is secured at its upper end to the center of the upper edge of the blade and at its lower end to the lower right hand corner of the blade. Pull ribbon 6 carries a contact 10 at its center which, when the pull ribbon is cold, engages a 12 carried by a support arm 14. Similarly, pull ribbon 8 carries a contact 16 at its mid point which, when the pull ribbon is cold, engages a fixed contact 18 mounted On a support arm 20. The vane 2 is welded or otherwise secured at its lower end to a support 22. Support 22 and posts 24 and 26, which support the arms 14 and respectively, extend through a molded base 28 of insulating material and terminate in prong terminals 32, 30 and 34 respectively.

If a lamp load to be flashed is connected to terminal 34 and a source of potential to terminal 30, the current flows from terminal 30 through contacts 10 and 12, through pull ribbon 6, the vane 2, pull ribbon 8, to contact 16 and from contact 16 through contact 18, arm 20 to terminal 34 and from there to the lamp load. Assuming that the v lamp load is 3 amperes, each pull ribbon will therefore carry 3 amperes. If now it is desired to flash a load of 6.

amperes for emergency conditions, it is only necessary to connect terminal 32 to the source of potential and connect the terminals 30 and 34 to separate loads of 3 amperes each. With this arrangement, current flows into the vane and from the vane through ribbon 6 to terminal 30 andone lamp load and from the vane through ribbon 8 to the other lamp load. Thus, in this situation each ribbon still carries only 3 amperes and the rate of flashing will not be changed.

In FIG. 3 suitable circuit connections for thus switching from directional to emergency flashing are illustrated. The

switching means include a two position switch 35 having three movable arms 36, 38 and 40. Switch arm 36 is connected to the positive terminal of a battery 42 which may be a car carried battery of, say, 12 volts and is also C011. nected by a lead 43 to one fixed contact associated with arm 38. Arm 38 is connected to terminal 30 of the flasher and arm is connected to terminal 34 of the flasher. The

other fixed terminal positioned for engagement by arm 38 is connected to a lamp load 44 which may comprise the signal lamps on the left side of a vehicle. Terminal 34 is connected to the movable arm 46 of the directional signal switch 48 and also to the switch arm 40 of the emergency switch. A lamp load 50, which may be the signal lamps on the right side of the vehicle, is connected to one fixed contact of the switch 48 and to a contact engageable by arm 40. The other fixed contact of switch 48 is connected to lamp load 44.

In the position of switch arms 36, 38 and 40 shown in full lines in FIG. 3, the flasher is connected for operation of the directional signal lamps at either side of the vehicle through the signal switch 48. With the switch arm 46 in the neutral position, no current flows to either lamp load. If now the switch arm 46 is moved to energize the left lamp load 44, current flows from the battery 42 through the connection 43 between the switch arm 36 and a contact engaged by switch arm 38, through switch arm 38 to terminal 30 of the flasher and the fixed contact associated with pull ribbon 6. The current flows in both directions through the pull ribbon to the vane 2 and from the vane 2 into each end of pull ribbon 8 and then through the contact on that ribbon and the fixed contact in engagement therewith through terminal 34 to the switch arm 46 and thence through the lamp load 44 to the other terminal of the battery, namely, ground. This current, which may be of the order of 3 amperes, heats the pull ribbons 6 and 8 causing them to expand and permit the vane 2 to snap towards it biased position and open both pairs of contacts. The lamps 44 thereupon extinguish and the pull ribbons 6 and 8 start to cool. When they have cooled sufficiently, the vane 2 is snapped back into the contact closing position and the sequence repeats with flashing of lamps 44. The same operation occurs when the switch arm 46 is moved to the other position to flash the lamp load 50.

If now it is desired to flash the loads 44 and 50 simultaneously, the switch arms 36, 38 and 40 are moved to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3. In this position of the switch arms, current flows from the battery 42 through switch arm 36 to terminal 32 into the vane 2. Half of the current then flows through ribbon 6 to terminal 30 and from terminal 30 through switch arm 38 to the lamp load 44. The other half of the current flows through pull ribbon 8 to terminal 34 and from terminal 34 through switch arm 40 to the lamp load 50. As the lamp load has doubled, the total current is 6 amperes but only 3 amperes pass through each pull ribbon as these pull ribbons are now in parallel in the circuit. Accordingly, only 3 amperes still flow through each ribbon and therefore the rate of flashing will be the same as when the flasher was connected for operation of but a single load.

The emergency flashing of all lamps with the particular circuit shown in FIG. 3 is independent of the position of the switch arm 46 in the signal switch and this is important as it does not require the operator of the car to operate the signal switch when the emergency switch is to be thrown. As diagrammatically indicated by the dashed line 52, the three arms 36, 38, and 40 of the emergency switch are preferably arranged for conjoint operation by a mechanical coupling.

The invention has now been described with reference to a single embodiment thereof and with reference to a single switching arrangement. Obviously, changes could be made in the particular flasher construction illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in the particular circuit shown in FIG. 3 without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the accompanying claims. For example, the pull ribbons 6 and 8 have been shown arranged in more or less of an inverted V configuration. The pull ribbons could as well be in parallel arrangement. Although a rectangular vane is illustrated, other shapes of vane, such as square or circular, could be used. Similarly, the bias is described as being introduced into the vane by means of a plurality of short ribs 4. The particular creases or ribs and their arrangement for biasing the vane into curvature is not critical as diagonal or other arrangement of ribs or creases could be employed so long as they insure that, when the pull ribbons are under ten- 4 sion, the contacts are closed and, when the pull ribbons expand, the vane snaps to contact open position.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the invention provides a novel series type flasher that will not change in frequency when the load is doubled. Moreover, because of the fact that the current through each ribbon is the same irrespective of whether the load is or is not doubled, positive piloting may be obtained, that is, if one of the lamps of the load 44, for example, should fail, the current through the pull ribbons when the signal lamps 44 are energized will be reduced and therefore the pull ribbons will not expand sufficiently to permit opening of contacts. As a result, any pilot lamp among the lamps of the load 44 will remain steady-on giving positive piloting. The same is true of the lamp load 50 when switch 48 is thrown for energizing such load.

The following is claimed:

1. A series type flasher comprising a vane of spring metal having deformations therein biasing the vanetoward one configuration, a pair of heat expansible pull means attached at their ends under tension to said vane and, when cold, holding the vane against the bias therein in a second configuration, a contact secured to each pull means at substantially the mid-point thereof, a pair of fixed contacts positioned for engagement with said pull means carried contacts when said vane is in said second configuration, and terminal means for connecting said fixed contacts in series between a source of energy and a lamp load and for alternatively connecting said vane and fixed contacts in series-parallel between a source of energy and separate lamp loads.

2. The combination with two equal lamp loads to be selectively flashed for directional signals and simultaneously flashed for emergency signals, of a series type flasher comprising a vane of spring metal having deformations therein biasing the vane toward one curved configuration, a pair of heat expansible pull means attached at their ends under tension to said vane and, when cold, holding the vane against the bias therein in a second configuration, a contact secured to each pull means at substantially the mid-point thereof, a pair of fixed contacts positioned for engagement by said pull means carried contacts when said vane is in said second configuration,

terminal means for connecting said fixed contacts in series between a source of energy and said lamp loads and for alternatively connecting said vane and fixed contacts in series-parallel between a source of energy and said lamp loads, a source of energy, and switch means for connecting said sourc through said series connection of said terminal means to either one of said lamp loads for flashing the same and for alternatively connecting said source through said series-parallel connection of said terminal means to both said lamp loads for simultaneously flashing the same. 3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said switch means includes a two position emergency switch having three movable arms ganged together and a directional signal switch having a member electrically connected to one of said fixed contacts and to one arm of said emergency switch, said member in one position connecting said contact and arm to one lamp load, in a second position connecting said contact and arm to the other lamp load and in a third position being connected only to said contact and arm, a second arm of said emergency switch being connected to said other fixed contact and the third arm of said switch being connected to the source of potential, said three arms, in the position of the emergency switch for flashing both loads, connecting said source to said vane, said first fixed contact to said second lamp load and said second fixed contact to said first lamp load, said emergency switch in its other position connecting said source to said second fixed contact and disconnecting said vane from said source.

4. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said vane is generally rectangular in shape, the deformations therein being short ribs extending from opposite edgesthereof and terminating short of the center of the vane and each of said pull means is secured at one end to the vane adjacent the center of a shorter edge of the Vane and at its other end to a corner of the vane.

5. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said switch means includes two switches, one a directional 5 signal switch and one an emergency switch, said directional signal switch having a member electrically connected to one of said fixed contacts and movable from a neutral position to first and second positions for selectively connecting said fixed contact to either one of said loads and said emergency switch having a first position which connects said source to the other fixed contact fior directionally signalling via the directional signal switch and a second position which connects said vane to said source and connects each fixed contact with a lamp load.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,667,602 1/ 1954 Flemming 31577 3,174,013 3/1965 Siiberg 200122.2 3,246,181 4/1966 Bleiweiss et al 300-1222 0 JAMES D. KALLAM, Primary Examiner.

D. O. KRAFT, A. M. LESNIAK, Assistan't Examiners. 

1. A SERIES TYPE FLASHER COMPRISING A VANE OF SPRING METAL HAVING DEFORMATIONS THEREIN BIASING THE VANE TOWARD ONE CONFIGURATION, A PAIR OF HEAT EXPANSIBLE PULL MEANS ATTACHED AT THEIR ENDS UNDER TENSION TO SAID VANE AND, WHEN COLD, HOLDING THE VANE AGAINST THE BIAS THEREIN IN A SECOND CONFIGURATION, A CONTACT SECURED TO EACH PULL MEANS AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE MID-POINT THEREOF, A PAIR OF FIXED CONTACTS POSITIONED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PULL MEANS CARRIED CONTACTS WHEN SAID VANE IS IN SAID SECOND CONFIGURATION, AND TERMINAL MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID FIXED CONTACTS IN SERIES BETWEEN A SOURCE OF ENERGY AND A LAMP LOAD AND FOR ALTERNATIVELY CONNECTING SAID VANE AND FIXED CONTACTS IN SERIES-PARALLEL BETWEEN A SOURCE OF ENERGY AND SEPARATE LAMP LOADS. 